LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) is an international certification scheme that helps laboratories minimize their carbon footprint without compromising research quality.

Health has chosen to introduce this scheme as part of the faculty’s sustainability strategy, initially as a pilot project involving five selected laboratories.

“Laboratories consume between three and ten times more energy per square meter than office spaces and generate large amounts of plastic waste. We cannot ignore our environmental impact, and as researchers, it is important that we take responsibility. LEAF provides us with a structured way to work on sustainability,” says Professor Thomas Corydon from the Department of Biomedicine.

He is responsible for the pilot project and sees great potential in certifying Health’s laboratories with LEAF.

“We cannot continue consuming energy, plastic, and water at the current rate. LEAF is an obvious solution because it provides a concrete tool to reduce our carbon footprint while maintaining high research quality. It is easy to implement and motivates researchers to take responsibility,” says Thomas Corydon, adding:

“The most inspiring aspect of LEAF is that it comes from within. It is something employees and students are passionate about - not a top-down process they are forced into. It is an initiative we can all contribute to in order to improve our workplace and support a greener future.”

• Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) was developed by University College London (UCL) to reduce laboratory carbon footprints without compromising research and education.
• Laboratories consume large amounts of electricity, water, reagents, and materials, leading to a significant environmental impact. LEAF helps reduce waste production and energy consumption.
• The certification consists of three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. To achieve certification, laboratories must meet criteria in waste management, energy use, water conservation, procurement, and research quality.
• Employees manage the certification process themselves using a checklist-based approach.
• A pilot project in the UK involving 235 laboratories demonstrated, in addition to a reduced environmental footprint, an average financial saving of DKK 32,000 per laboratory per year.
• Learn more about the LEAF certification scheme here

Small steps toward big change

Laboratories can achieve certification at three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, based on criteria such as waste management, energy optimization, and procurement.

“Progress is made through small steps, and each lab chooses its own pace and ambition level. But we are researchers in a competitive environment, and the certification scheme has a natural competitive element. When one laboratory achieves Bronze, the neighboring group will hopefully strive for Silver or Gold. This creates a positive dynamic,” says Thomas Corydon.

The system is initially being tested in five laboratories across different departments to assess how it functions in practice. Thomas Corydon believes there are clear benefits to rethinking laboratory workflows.

“If we can optimize freezer use, reduce plastic consumption, and order materials more efficiently, we not only lower our carbon footprint but also save significant costs. Overall, it makes perfect sense,” he says.

A Potential Win-Win

LEAF is already used in universities worldwide, including all laboratories at the University of Copenhagen. International research funding bodies, such as Wellcome Trust and UKRI, prioritize sustainability in their grants, which can give certified laboratories an advantage in funding applications.

“If we can document that we actively work on sustainability, it can strengthen our position when applying for research funding. At the same time, we see increasing interest among students and employees in working at institutions that take sustainability seriously. LEAF can therefore also become an important recruitment tool,” explains Thomas Corydon.

The pilot project will run for the next six months, after which the results will be evaluated. If all goes well, more laboratories could join the LEAF program by the end of 2025.

“Our goal is for LEAF to become a permanent part of our laboratory practices. We are starting small, but I believe it will grow and become an integral part of our research culture. If we can save resources while maintaining high research quality, it is a clear win-win,” concludes Thomas Corydon.

In the long term, Health is exploring the possibility of integrating LEAF into all laboratories and making it a mandatory part of the onboarding process for researchers and technical staff.

Contact

Professor Thomas Corydon
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Phone: +45 28 99 21 79
Email: corydon@biomed.au.dk

Bioanalysis Instructor Inger Merete S. Paulsen
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Phone: +45 87 16 76 67
Email: imsp@biomed.au.dk